Pectus bar stabilizer

ABSTRACT

A pectus bar stabilizer assembly and method includes a first base part separable from a second base part. The first and second base parts combine to define a channel therebetween. A pectus bar is received by the channel and a retainer assembly retains the pectus bar in the channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/402,319 filed on Apr. 11, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/680,851, filed on May 13, 2005. Theentire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present teachings relate to an apparatus for the correction of chestwall deformities, and more specifically to a pectus bar stabilizer.

BACKGROUND

To correct chest wall deformities, a pectus bar may be fixedly mountedto supporting structure, typically cartilage, using a stabilizer plate,which generally includes a single plate having a recess through acentral portion and apertures therein for receiving and fixedlyattaching a pectus bar thereto. A pectus bar stabilizer may also includea series of apertures on distal portions for fixedly securing thestabilizer plate to the supporting structure. To remove or adjust thepectus bar, screws securing the pectus bar to the stabilizer plate mustbe removed. But the screws are often difficult to access and remove dueto surrounding tissue or bone growth.

SUMMARY

A pectus bar stabilizer assembly generally includes a pectus bar, aretainer assembly, a first base part and a second base part. The firstand second base parts are separable from one another to facilitateremoval and combinable to define a channel therebetween. The pectus baris received by the channel and the retainer assembly retains the pectusbar in the channel. A portion of the retainer assembly may be removed,allowing the pectus bar to be removed or adjusted.

Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples areintended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present teachings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teachings will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first pectus bar stabilizer assemblyshown partially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one base part of a pectus barstabilizer;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the base part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the base parts of the pectus barstabilizer as cut along line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tool and stopping member;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the tool and stopping member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly shownpartially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of one base part of the pectus barstabilizer shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the base part of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly shownpartially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of one base part of the pectus barstabilizer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the base part of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly shownpartially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 14A is a front perspective view of one base part of the pectus barstabilizer shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14B is an additional front perspective view of the base part ofFIG. 14A;

FIG. 15A is a rear perspective view of the base part of FIG. 14.

FIG. 15B is an additional front perspective view of the base part ofFIG. 15A;

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of one base part of the pectus barstabilizer shown in FIG. 13 having an additional feature;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the base part of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly shownpartially assembled and partially exploded;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the pectus bar stabilizer of FIG. 18;and

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the pectus bar stabilizer of FIG. 19taken at line 20-20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show a pectus bar stabilizer assembly 10 generally includes apectus bar 12 and a pectus bar stabilizer 14. The pectus bar stabilizer14 retains the pectus bar 12 and may be fixedly attached to an externalstructure, such as cartilage.

The pectus bar 12 may have a longitudinally extending bar of generallyuniform thickness, a generally rectangular cross-section, and an endportion 24 opposite a second end portion 26. The first and second endportions 24, 26 may include an arcuate periphery and an aperture 25. Aseries of apertures 28, 30, which may include internal threads, may bedisposed inwardly from the end portions 24, 26.

The pectus bar stabilizer 14 may include first and second base parts 20,22 and a retainer assembly 78. The first and second base parts 20, 22may be generally similar to one another, with minor differences thatwill be discussed below. For simplicity in the description, first basepart 20 will be discussed in detail.

The first base part 20 may include a body portion 32 and a leg 34extending therefrom. The body portion 32 may include an inner body wall36, a top body surface 38, a lower body surface 40 and an outer bodysurface 42. The top body surface 38 may include three main sections 44,46, 48. The first section 44 is generally planar and includes a seriesof notches 50. The second section 46 is contoured and slopes downwardfrom the first section 44 to the third section 48. The third section 48is generally planar and extends from the second section 46. The lowerbody surface 40 is generally planar and generally parallel to the firstand third sections 44, 48 of the top body surface 38. The outer bodysurface 42 connects the top body surface 38, the lower body surface 40and the inner body wall 36.

The inner body wall 36 may include two sections 56, 58. The firstsection 56 is generally rectangular and has a width L1 and a height L2.The second section 58 is generally rectangular and has a width L1 and aheight L3. The height L3 of the second section 58 is less than theheight L2 of the first section 56. A recess 60, defined below the secondsection 58 and proximate the first section 56, extends into the bodyportion 32 a depth of L4 and has a width L1 and a height L5.

A leg 34 extends generally perpendicularly from the first section 56 ofthe inner body wall 36. The leg 34 may have a width generally equal tothe width L1 of the first section 56 of the inner body wall 36 and maybe divided into a first leg portion 62 and a second leg portion 64. Thefirst leg portion 62, which is located proximate the body portion 32,may have a generally rectangular cross-section and a height less thanthe height L5 of the recess 60 in the body portion 32. The first legportion 62 of the first and second base parts 20, 22 may also eachinclude an arcuate recess 63 at an inner edge portion 65 as shown inFIGS. 7-9. The second leg portion 64 may have a generally rectangularcross-section and may be sized to generally fit within the recess 60,having a height, length and width generally corresponding to thedimensions L5, L4, L1 of recess 60.

A series of apertures may be located in the first base part 20. A firstaperture 52 may be located at a distal end 54 of the body portion 32,passing through the third section 48 of the top body surface 38 and thelower body surface 40. The first aperture 52 allows the first base part20 to be coupled to a supporting structure, such as cartilage. A seriesof pin apertures 66, 68, 70, 72 may be provided in the first and secondbase parts 20, 22. The pin apertures 66, 68 extend partially into thefirst base part 20. The first pin aperture 66 extends into body portion32 through the recess side wall 74 in the recess 60 of body portion 32.The second pin aperture 68 extends into the second leg portion 64through the second leg portion side wall 76. The pin apertures 70, 72 inthe second base part 22 may be positioned similarly to those in thefirst base part 20, and may extend completely through the second legportion 64 and the body portion 32 of the second base part 22, as shownin FIG. 4. Alternatively, the base parts 20, 22 may not include any pinapertures, eliminating the need for pins as shown in FIGS. 7-9.

The retainer assembly 78 may include a series of pins 80, a series ofretaining bars 82 and a stopping member assembly 84. The pins 80 may begenerally cylindrical members, sized to be located within the pinapertures 66, 68, 70, 72. The pin may include a first portion 81 and amain portion 83 generally extending therefrom. The first portion 81 ofthe pin 80 may have a diameter greater than the diameter of the mainportion 83 of the pin 80. The main portion 83 of the pin 80 may besmaller in diameter than the pin apertures 66, 68, 70, 72. The mainportion 83 may be first inserted into the pin apertures 66, 68, 70, 72.The first portion 81 may have a diameter similar to the diameter of thepin apertures, resulting in retention of the pin within the pinapertures 66, 68, 70, 72, due to friction between the first portion 81and pin apertures 70, 72.

The retaining bars 82 may include a first end portion 86 opposite asecond end portion 88. The retaining bars 82 may generally haveflattened, substantially rectangular cross-sections with rounded edgesat the first and second end portions 86, 88. The retaining bars 82 mayhave a generally uniform thickness throughout their length. The firstand second ends 86, 88 of the retaining bars 82 may be located in thenotches 50 in the body portions 32 of the base parts 20, 22.

The stopping member assembly 84, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may include atool 90, a neck portion 92 and a stopping member 94. The tool 90 isgenerally cylindrical and may include a knurled surface 96 to facilitategrasp by a user. A distal end 98 of the tool 90 may be generallyconical, having a greater diameter at a first end 100 and a reduceddiameter at a second end 102. A neck portion 92 may generally extendfrom the distal end 98 of the tool 90 to the stopping member 94. Theneck portion 92 may be substantially smaller in diameter than both thetool 90 and the stopping member 94 and provides a mechanism to separatethe tool 90 from the stopping member 94. The separation feature may be anecked-down portion facilitating separation by bending or twisting thetool 90 relative to the stopping member 94, or may include atorque-limiting feature to sever the tool 90 from the stopping member 94upon meeting a predetermined torque limit during insertion. The neckportion 92 diameter may be one-tenth of the diameter of the tool 90 andless than one-half of the diameter of the smallest diameter of thestopping member 94. A variation may include a separate tool and stoppingmember.

The stopping member 94 may include a hexagonal head 104 and a bodyportion 106 generally extending therefrom. The hexagonal head 104 may beattached to the neck portion 92. The body portion 106 may include anunthreaded portion 108 and a threaded portion 110. The unthreadedportion 108 may be located proximate the hexagonal head 104 and thethreaded portion 110 may be located at the end of the body portion 106distal from the hexagonal head 104.

The pectus bar stabilizer assembly 10 may retain the pectus bar 12through the first and second base parts 20, 22 and the retainer assembly78. The two base parts 20, 22 may be placed proximate one another,inserting the second leg portion 64 of the first base part 20 into therecess 60 of the second base part 22 and inserting the second legportion 64 of the second base part 22 into the recess 60 of the firstbase part 20. In this configuration, the first and second base parts 20,22 define a channel 112 bound by the inner body wall 36 of the firstbase part 20, the inner body wall 36 of the second base part 22 and thefirst leg portions 62 of the first and second base parts 20, 22. In thisconfiguration, the pin apertures 66, 68, 70, 72 of the first and secondbase parts 20, 22 are in respective alignment.

Once the first and second base parts 20, 22 have been arranged to definethe channel 112, pins 80 may be inserted into the pin apertures 66, 68,70, 72. The pins 80 may extend completely through the first base part 20and partially into the second base part 22, securing the first andsecond base parts 20, 22 to one another in a transverse directionrelative to the axis of the pins 80. Next, the retaining bars 82 may beplaced over the channel 112. The first and second ends 86, 88 may belocated within the notches 50 in the body portion 32 of the first andsecond base parts 20, 22 and welded in place. The retaining bars 82secure the first and second base parts 20, 22 to one another in atransverse direction relative to the bars 82.

Once the first and second base parts 20, 22 are fixedly attached to oneanother, a first end portion 24 of the pectus bar 12 may be insertedinto the channel 112 below the retaining bars 82. After the first endportion 24 is located within the channel 112, one of the apertures 28 inthe first end portion may be aligned between the retaining bars 82.After the desired aperture 28 is located between the retaining bars 82,the stopping member 94 may be secured in the aperture 28. Once thestopping member 94 is securely in place, the tool 90 is separated fromthe stopping member 94 at the neck portion 92. The hexagonal head 104may provide retention of the pectus bar 12. The body portion 106 of thestopping member 94 may be attached to the aperture 28 in the pectus bar12 and the hexagonal head 104 may extend above the pectus bar 12,preventing the pectus bar 12 from translating axially beyond theretaining bars 82.

In FIGS. 1-3, the stopping member 94 is shown only passing through thepectus bar because the channel 112 has no aperture therethrough. Asshown in FIGS. 7-9 the channel may have an aperture allowing for passageof the stopping member 94 therethrough, providing further retention. Thestopping member 94 may include an additional portion extending beyondthe threaded portion 110. This additional portion may be unthreaded, asshown in FIG. 7, or may be threaded.

Other stopping members may be used for retention of the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 14. One such example is a rivet, whichmay be applied to an aperture 28 in the pectus bar 12, leaving a headportion exposed above the pectus bar 12 and retaining the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 14 as described above.

The pectus bar 12 may be removed from the pectus bar stabilizer 14without removing any of the stopping members 94. One of the retainingbars 82 located distal from the retained end portion 24, 26 may beremoved allowing the pectus bar 12 to translate axially in a directionfree of the bars 82. Both bars 82 may also be removed to eliminateretention of the pectus bar 82 within the pectus bar stabilizer 14.

The pectus bar stabilizer 14 may generally be attached to an externalstructure, such as cartilage. The pectus bar stabilizer 14 may beattached using the apertures 52 located in the distal portions of thefirst and second base parts 20, 22. The attachment may be made using anysuitable method including sutures, screws or some other form ofattachment.

A typical pectus bar stabilizer assembly 10 may include two pectus barstabilizers 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The second pectus bar stabilizer 14may be identical to the first pectus bar stabilizer 14, as describedabove. A second end portion 26 of the pectus bar 12 may be attached tothe second pectus bar stabilizer 14 through a second series of apertures30 in a manner similar to that described above.

An additional pectus bar stabilizer assembly 210 is shown in FIGS. 10-12and generally includes a pectus bar 12 and a pectus bar stabilizer 214.The pectus bar stabilizer 214 retains the pectus bar 12 and may befixedly attached to an external structure, such as cartilage.

The pectus bar stabilizer 214 may include first and second base parts220, 222 and a retainer assembly 278. The first and second base parts220, 222 may be generally similar to one another. For simplicity in thedescription, only first base part 220 will be discussed in detail withthe understanding that the second base part 222 is similar in structure.

The first base part 220 may include a first end 232, a second end 234and a channel 212 disposed therebetween. The first and second ends 232,234 are generally similar and only the first end 232 will be discussedin detail. The first end 232 may include an channel wall 236, a top bodysurface 238, a lower body surface 240 and an outer body surface 242. Thetop body surface 238 may include three main sections 244, 246, 248. Thefirst section 244 is generally planar and includes a series of notches250. The second section 246 is contoured and slopes downward from thefirst section 244 to the third section 248. The third section 248 isgenerally planar and extends from the second section 246. An arcuaterecess 252 is formed through the third section 248 of the top bodysurface 238. The arcuate recess 252 aligns with a similar arcuate recess252 on the second base part 222, generally forming an aperture throughthe first end 232 thereof. The lower body surface 240 is generallyplanar and generally parallel to the first and third sections 244, 248of the top body surface 238. The outer body surface 242 connects the topbody surface 238, the lower body surface 240 and the channel wall 236.

The channel walls 236 define the width of the channel 212 and the middleportion 262 defines the lower structure of the channel 212. A series ofchannel notches 268 are located in the channel walls 236 and the firstsection 244 of the top body surface 238. A threaded arcuate recess 266may be formed on the inner surface of the middle portion 262. When thefirst and second base parts 220, 222 are assembled the threaded arcuaterecesses 266 of each align, forming a threaded aperture.

The retainer assembly 278 may include a series of retaining bars 282 anda stopping member assembly 284. The retaining bars 282 may include afirst end portion 286 opposite a second end portion 288. The retainingbars 282 may generally have flattened, substantially rectangularcross-sections with rounded edges at the first and second end portions286, 288. The retaining bars 282 may have a generally uniform thicknessthroughout their length. The first and second ends 286, 288 of theretaining bars 282 may be located in the notches 250 in the first andsecond ends 232, 234 of the base parts 220, 222.

The stopping member assembly 284 may include a tool 90, a neck portion92 and a stopping member 94 similar to that described above. Thestopping member 94 may include an additional threaded portion extendingbeyond the threaded portion 110, as shown in FIG. 10.

The pectus bar stabilizer assembly 210 may retain the pectus bar 12through the first and second base parts 220, 222 and the retainerassembly 278. The two base parts 220, 222 may be placed proximate oneanother defining a channel 212 bound by the channel walls 236 and middleportion 262. In this configuration, the notches 250 of the first andsecond base parts 220, 222 are in respective alignment.

Once the first and second base parts 220, 222 have been arranged todefine the channel 212, the retaining bars 282 may be placed along thesides if the channel 212. The first and second ends 286, 288 may belocated within the notches 250 in the first and second ends 232, 234 ofthe first and second base parts 220, 222 and welded in place. Theretaining bars 282 secure the first and second base parts 220, 222 toone another in both a transverse direction and an axial directionrelative to the bars 282.

Once the first and second base parts 220, 222 are fixedly attached toone another, a first end portion 24 of the pectus bar 12 may be insertedinto the channel 212. After the first end portion 24 is located withinthe channel 212, one of the apertures 28 in the first end portion may bealigned with the aperture formed by the threaded arcuate recesses 266 inthe middle portion 262. After the desired aperture 28 is located abovethe aperture formed by the threaded arcuate recesses 266, the stoppingmember 94 may be threaded into the aperture 28 and through the apertureformed by the threaded arcuate recesses 266 as well. Once the stoppingmember 94 is securely in place, the tool 90 is separated from thestopping member 94 at the neck portion 92. The hexagonal head 104 mayprovide retention of the pectus bar 12. The body portion 106 of thestopping member 94 may be attached to both the aperture 28 in the pectusbar 12 and the aperture formed by the threaded arcuate recesses 266. Thehexagonal head 104 may extend above the pectus bar 12, providing forremoval of the stopping member 94 from the pectus bar 12 if desired.

Other stopping members may be used for retention of the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 14. One such example is a rivet, whichmay be applied to an aperture 28 in the pectus bar 12, leaving a headportion exposed above the pectus bar 12 to retain the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 214 as described above.

The pectus bar 12 may be removed from the pectus bar stabilizer 214without removing any of the stopping members 94. The retaining bars 282located distal from the retained end portion 24, 26 may be removedallowing one of the base parts 220, 222 to be removed. The pectus bar 12may then translate axially in a direction free of the aperture formed bythe threaded arcuate recesses 266. The stopping member 94 may also beremoved, freeing the pectus bar 12 from the pectus bar stabilizer 214.

The pectus bar stabilizer 214 may generally be attached to an externalstructure, such as cartilage as previously discussed.

A further example of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly 310 is shown inFIGS. 13-15 and may generally include a pectus bar 12 and a pectus barstabilizer 314. The pectus bar stabilizer 314 retains the pectus bar 12and may be fixedly attached to an external structure, such as cartilage.

The pectus bar stabilizer 314 may include first and second base parts320, 322 and a retainer assembly 378. The first and second base parts320, 322 may be generally similar to one another. For simplicity in thedescription, only first base part 320 will be discussed in detail withthe understanding that the second base part 322 is similar in structure.

The first base part 320 may include a body portion 332 and a leg 334extending therefrom. The body portion 332 may include an inner body wall336, a top body surface 338, a lower body surface 340 and an outer bodysurface 342. The top body surface 338 may include three main sections344, 346, 348. The first section 344 is generally planar and includes aretainer recess 350.

The retainer recess 350 may include a first recess 350 a forming achannel in the first section 344 that is generally parallel to the innerbody wall 336. The first recess 350 a may extend the entire width of thefirst section 344. The first recess 350 a may be defined by an outerwall 351 and an inner wall 353 located opposite one another. The innerwall 353 may include two discrete sections 353 a, 353 b forming anopening 350 b therebetween.

The second section 346 is contoured and slopes downward from the firstsection 344 to the third section 348. The third section 348 is generallyplanar and extends from the second section 346. The lower body surface340 is generally planar and generally parallel to the first and thirdsections 344, 348 of the top body surface 338. The outer body surface342 connects the top body surface 338, the lower body surface 340 andthe inner body wall 336.

The inner body wall 336 may include two sections 356, 358. The firstsection 356 is generally rectangular and has a width L31 and a heightL32. The second section 358 is generally rectangular and has a width L31and a height L33. The height L33 of the second section 358 is less thanthe height L32 of the first section 356. A recess 360, defined below thesecond section 358 and proximate the first section 356, extends into thebody portion 332 a depth of L34 at the outer body surface 342 and has aheight L35. The recess 360 may include an upper recess 360 a and a lowerrecess 360 b. The upper recess 360 a is defined by a first recess wall361, an upper recess surface 367, a lower recess surface 369, and theplane of the second section 358. The first recess wall 361 may have agenerally curved profile and extends from the outer body surface 342 tothe first section 356. The lower recess 360 b is located below the upperrecess 360 a and extends into the body portion a distance L37 at theouter body surface 342. The lower recess 360 b is defined by a secondrecess wall 371, the plane of the lower recess surface 369, the plane ofthe lower body surface 340, and the plane of the second section 358. Thesecond recess wall 371 may have a generally curved profile and extendsfrom the outer body surface 342 to the first section 356.

A leg 334 extends generally perpendicularly from the first section 356of the inner body wall 336. The leg 334 may be divided into a first legportion 362 and a second leg portion 364. The first leg portion 362,which is located proximate the body portion 332, may have a generallyrectangular cross-section and a height less than the height L36 definedbetween the second section 358 and the lower body surface 340. The firstleg portion 362 of the first and second base parts 320, 322 may alsoeach include an arcuate recess 363 at an inner edge portion 365 as shownin FIGS. 16-17. The arcuate recess 363 may be optionally threaded (notshown). The second leg portion 364 may include a generally steppedarrangement having an upper portion 364 a and a lower portion 364 b. Theupper portion 364 a may have a shape similar to the shape of the upperrecess 360 a and the lower portion 364 b may have a shape generallysimilar to the lower recess 360 b, thereby allowing the second legportion 364 to generally fit within the recess 360.

A series of apertures may be located in the first base part 320. A firstaperture 352 may be located at a distal end 354 of the body portion 332,passing through the third section 348 of the top body surface 338 andthe lower body surface 340. The first aperture 352 allows the first basepart 320 to be coupled to a supporting structure, such as cartilage.

The retainer assembly 378 may include a retainer bar arrangement 382 anda stopping member assembly 384. The retainer bar arrangement 382 mayinclude a series of legs 386 interconnected by a series of cross bars387 extending between the legs 386 and generally perpendicular thereto,forming a channel 389 between the legs 386 and cross bars 387. The legs386 may have end portions 391 extending beyond the cross bars 387. Thelegs 386 may generally have flattened, substantially rectangularcross-sections. The cross bars 387 may also generally have flattened,substantially rectangular cross-sections similar to those of the legs386. The retainer assembly 378 may have a generally uniform thicknessthroughout its length. The legs 386 are located within the first recess350 a, extending generally parallel to the channel 312. The cross bars387 may extend across the channel 312 and pass through the openings 350b in the inner wall 353.

The stopping member assembly 384 may include a tool 90, a neck portion92 and a stopping member 94 similar to that described above. The pectusbar apertures 28, 30 may be threaded or the aperture 363 in the baseparts 320, 322 may be threaded. If threading exists in either of theseparts a screw may be used as the fastener and engage the threadedaperture. The stopping member 94 may include an additional portionextending beyond the threaded portion 110. This additional portion maybe unthreaded to mate with recess 363 in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The pectus bar stabilizer assembly 310 may retain the pectus bar 12through the first and second base parts 320, 322 and the retainerassembly 378. The two base parts 320, 322 may be placed proximate oneanother defining a channel 312 bound by the channel walls 336 and middleportion 362. In this configuration, the retainer recesses 350 of thefirst and second base parts 320, 322 are in respective alignment.

Once the first and second base parts 320, 322 have been arranged todefine the channel 312, the retainer bar arrangement 382 may be placedin the retainer recess 350, thereby extending across the channel 312.The retainer bar arrangement 382 may then be welded in place. Theretainer bar arrangement 382 secures the first and second base parts320, 322 to one another in both a transverse direction and an axialdirection relative to the retainer bar arrangement 382.

Once the first and second base parts 320, 322 are fixedly attached toone another, a first end portion 24 of the pectus bar 12 may be insertedinto the channel 312. After the first end portion 24 is located withinthe channel 312, one of the apertures 28 in the first end portion may bealigned with the channel 389. After the desired aperture 28 is locatedbelow the channel 389, the stopping member 94 may be threaded, orotherwise fixedly secured, into the aperture 28. Once the stoppingmember 94 is securely in place, the tool 90 is separated from thestopping member 94 at the neck portion 92. The hexagonal head 104 mayprovide retention of the pectus bar 12. The body portion 106 of thestopping member 94 may be attached to the aperture 28 in the pectus bar12. The hexagonal head 104 may extend above the pectus bar 12, providingfor removal of the stopping member 94 from the pectus bar 12 if desired.

Other stopping members may be used for retention of the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 314. One such example is a rivet, whichmay be applied to an aperture 28 in the pectus bar 12, leaving a headportion exposed above the pectus bar 12 to retain the pectus bar 12within the pectus bar stabilizer 314 as described above.

The pectus bar 12 may be removed from the pectus bar stabilizer 314without removing any of the stopping members 94. The retainer bararrangement 382 may either partially or entirely removed. The pectus bar12 may then translate axially free from the retainer bar arrangement382. The stopping member 94 may also be removed, freeing the pectus bar12 from the pectus bar stabilizer 314.

The pectus bar stabilizer 314 may generally be attached to an externalstructure, such as cartilage as previously discussed.

An additional example of a pectus bar stabilizer assembly 410 is shownin FIGS. 18-20 and may generally include a pectus bar 12, a one-piecepectus bar stabilizer 414, and a stopping member assembly 484. Thepectus bar stabilizer 414 retains the pectus bar 12 and may be fixedlyattached to an external structure, such as cartilage.

The pectus bar stabilizer 414 may be machined as a single piece andinclude outer portions 416, 418 and a central recessed portion 420. Thepectus bar stabilizer 414 may include inner body walls 436 definingcentral recessed portion 420. Pectus bar stabilizer 414 may furtherinclude top, lower, and outer body surfaces 438, 440, 442. Top bodysurface 438 may include three main sections 444, 446, 448. First section444 may be generally planar. Second section 446 may be contoured andslope downward from first section 444 to third section 448. Thirdsection 448 may be generally planar and extend from second section 446.Lower body surface 440 may be generally planar and parallel to first andthird sections 444, 448 of top body surface 438. Outer body surface 442may connect top body surface 438, lower body surface 440, and inner bodywall 436. Central recessed portion 420 may additionally include athreaded or unthreaded aperture extending therethrough generally similarto the aperture created by unthreaded recess 63 in FIG. 9 or threadedrecess 266 in FIG. 10.

A series of retaining bars 482 may be integrally formed with and extendbetween end portions 416, 418 and over central recessed portion 420. Theretaining bars 482 may have flattened, generally rectangularcross-sections. The retaining bars 482 may have a generally uniformthickness throughout their length.

A series of apertures 452, 454 may be located in outer portions 416,418, passing through third section 448 of top body surface 438 and lowerbody surface 440. Apertures 452, 454 allow pectus bar stabilizer 414 tobe coupled to a supporting structure, such as cartilage.

A channel 422 may be located in pectus bar stabilizer 414. Channel 422may have a starting point 424 located below and generally between endsof retaining bars 482. As shown in FIG. 19, starting point 424 mayextend through inner body wall 436. An end point 426 of channel 422 mayextend through lower body surface 440. Channel 422 may take the form ofa variety of paths allowing separation of outer portions 416, 418 onceretaining bars 482 are severed, as discussed below. Channel 422 may beformed in a variety of ways, such as wire electrical discharge machining(EDM).

Stopping member assembly 484 may include a tool 90, a neck portion 92and a stopping member 94 similar to that described above. Stoppingmember 94 may include an additional portion extending beyond threadedportion 110, similar to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. This additionalportion may be threaded for mating with a threaded aperture orunthreaded to pass through an unthreaded aperture in central recessedportion 420.

A first end portion 24 of pectus bar 12 may be inserted into recessedportion 420 below retaining bars 482. After first end portion 24 islocated within central recessed portion 420, one of apertures 28 may belocated between retaining bars 482, stopping member 94 may then bethreaded, or otherwise fixedly secured, into aperture 28. Once stoppingmember 94 is securely in place, tool 90 may be separated from stoppingmember 94 at neck portion 92. Hexagonal head 104 may provide retentionof pectus bar 12. Body portion 106 of stopping member 94 may be attachedto aperture 28 in pectus bar 12. Hexagonal head 104 may extend abovepectus bar 12, providing for removal of stopping member 94 from pectusbar 12 if desired.

Other stopping members may be used for retention of pectus bar 12 withinpectus bar stabilizer 414. One such example is a rivet, which may beapplied to an aperture 28 in pectus bar 12, leaving a head portionexposed above pectus bar 12 to retain pectus bar 12 within the pectusbar stabilizer 414 as described above.

Pectus bar 12 may be removed from pectus bar stabilizer 414 without theremoval of stopping members 94. Retaining bars 482 may be severedresulting in outer portions 416, 418 being separated from one anotherdue to channel 422. Pectus bar 12 may then be removed from pectus barstabilizer 414 while still having stopping member 94 therein.

The description is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of thepresent teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A minimally invasive surgical method comprising:accessing an assembly attached to tissue within a human body, theassembly including a pectus bar, a stabilizer member and a stoppingmember, the stabilizer member having first and second base partsdefining a channel receiving the pectus bar and first and secondretaining bars extending between the first and second base parts andtraversing the channel, the stopping member attached to the pectus barbetween the first and second retaining bars and restricting movement ofthe pectus bar within the channel; severing one of the first and secondretaining bars; and removing the pectus bar from the channel of thestabilizer member with the stopping member attached to the pectus bar.2. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 1, wherein the one ofthe first and second retaining bars is severed with the stabilizermember attached to tissue of the human body.
 3. The minimally invasivesurgical method of claim 1, wherein the stopping member includes a bodyportion and a head portion, and wherein the pectus bar is removed fromthe channel without disengaging the body portion of the stopping memberfrom the stabilizer member.
 4. The minimally invasive surgical method ofclaim 3, wherein the body portion of the stopping member does notdirectly engage the stabilizer member prior to removing the pectus barfrom the stabilizer member.
 5. The minimally invasive surgical method ofclaim 1, further comprising severing the other of the first and secondretaining bars.
 6. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 1,wherein said stopping member is a rivet.
 7. The minimally invasivesurgical method of claim 1, wherein said stopping member is a screw. 8.The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond retaining bars are substantially parallel to each other.
 9. Theminimally invasive surgical method of claim 1, wherein the stoppingmember is received in a selected one of a plurality of apertures formedin the pectus bar.
 10. A minimally invasive surgical method comprising:accessing an assembly attached to tissue within a human body, theassembly including a pectus bar, a stabilizer member and a stoppingmember, the stabilizer member having first and second base partsdefining a channel receiving the pectus bar and first and secondretaining bars extending between the first and second base parts andtraversing the channel, the stopping member attached to the pectus barbetween the first and second retaining bars and restricting movement ofthe pectus bar within the channel; disengaging the first and second baseparts from each other; and removing the pectus bar from the stabilizermember with the stopping member attached to the pectus bar.
 11. Theminimally invasive surgical method of claim 10, wherein disengaging thefirst and second base parts from each other includes severing at leastone of the first and second retaining bars.
 12. The minimally invasivesurgical method of claim 11, wherein the one of the first and secondretaining bars is severed with the stabilizer member attached to tissueof the human body.
 13. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim10, wherein the stopping member includes a body portion and a headportion, and wherein the pectus bar is removed from the channel withoutdisengaging the body portion of the stopping member from the stabilizermember.
 14. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 13, whereinthe body portion of the stopping member does not directly engage thestabilizer member prior to removing the pectus bar from the stabilizermember.
 15. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 10, furthercomprising severing the other of the first and second retaining bars.16. The minimally invasive surgical method of claim 10, wherein saidstopping member is a rivet.
 17. The minimally invasive surgical methodof claim 10, wherein said stopping member is a screw.
 18. The minimallyinvasive surgical method of claim 10, wherein disengaging the first andsecond base parts from each other includes removing the first and secondretaining bars from the stabilizer member.
 19. The minimally invasivesurgical method of claim 10, wherein the first and second retaining barsare substantially parallel to each other.
 20. The minimally invasivesurgical method of claim 10, wherein the stopping member is received ina selected one of a plurality of apertures formed in the pectus bar.